His Beatiude, the Most Blessed HERMAN, Archbishop of Washington and New York Metropoliltan of All America and Canada

The Most Reverend and Right Reverend Members of the Holy Synod of Bishops
Orthodox Church in America

PO Box 675
Syosset, NY 11791

Your Beatitude, Your Eminences, Your Graces:

Master, bless!

We, the undersigned clergy of the Diocese of the Midwest, gathered around our Archbishop at the Diocesan Clergy Convocation of 6-8 February 2006, express our unwavering support for His Eminence, Archbishop JOB's call for an answer to the question: "Are the allegations true, or false?"

We humbly appeal to Your Beatitude and to the Holy Synod to initiate an investigation into these allegations. This investigation must include an independent, professional forensic audit of all church accounts from 1996-2005, in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards.

We appeal to Your Beatitude and to the Holy Synod to appoint an investigative commission, including three bishops and such clergy and laypersons as deemed appropriate, to review this audit and report the findings to the Church.

We believe that this will indeed enable us to carry out Your Beatitude's desire and that of the Holy Synod "to place our focus on Christ and His saving mission." We make this appeal to You in a spirit of love and a desire for mutual peace.